Connection system for steel beams

ABSTRACT

A connection system for steel beams comprising a pair of fittings, one designed to be fastened to a support beam or column, and the other to a framing beam, each fitting provided with a plurality of parallel grooves on each of its sides extending parallel to and normal to the axis of the framing beam, the grooves of the two sides being staggered relatively to each other, each fitting having a notch in that face which abuts the other fitting, the notches matching to form a hole extending through the abutting fittings, a male and a female tongue plate provided with tongues which enter the grooves of the two fittings when axially aligned with each other, and a fastener which preferably is a stud integral with the male tongue plate extending through the hole formed by the matching notches in the abutting fittings and through a hole in the female tongue plate, and a nut on the free end of the stud for drawing the plates together and connecting the tongue plates and fittings together, to thereby connect the beams to which the fittings have been fastened. The same system can be achieved by providing the tongues on the fittings fastened to the support and framing beams respectively, and the grooves on the male and female plates which connect the fittings together.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harry M. Gallay 4649 Saxon Drive, NewSmyrna Beach, F II. 32069 I21] Appl. No. 4.570 [22] Filed ,Ian. M, 1970(45] Patented July 6, I971 [54] CONNECTION SYSTEM FOR STEEL BEAMS 6Claims, 15 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl. .287/189J6,

52/665 I51] Int.Cl F161! 7/00 [50] Field 0! Search 287/2092 C, l89.36 F,189.36 C, 189.36 R, 189.36 H, 54 A, 54 B, 54 C; 52/665 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 444,579 1/1891 Jackson 287/20.92CX 495,7834/1893 Carallaro.... 287/l89.36 F 1,795,589 3/1931 Zolla 287/2092 C3,456,405 7/1969 Hida et al. .l 52/665 X Primary Examrner-Reina1do P.Machado Assistant Examiner Wayne L Shedd Atromey-Bertha L MacGregorABSTRACT: A connection system for steel beams comprising a pair offittings, one designed to be fastened to a support beam or column, andthe other to a framing beam, each fitting provided with a plurality ofparallel grooves on each of its sides extending parallel to and normalto the axis of the framing beam, the grooves of the two sides beingstaggered relatively to each other, each fitting having a notch in thatface which abuts the other fitting, the notches matching to form a holeextending through the abutting fittings, a male and a female tongueplate provided with tongues which enter the grooves of the two fittingswhen axially aligned with each other, and a fastener which preferably isa stud integral with the male tongue plate extending through the holeformed by the matching notches in the abutting fittings and through ahole in the female tongue plate, and a nut on the free end of the studfor drawing the plates together and connecting the tongue plates andfittings together, to thereby connect the beams to which the fittingshave been fastened. The same system can be achieved by providing thetongues on the fittings fastened to the support and framing beamsrespectively, and the grooves on the male and female plates whichconnect the fittings together.

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8 4 03 w 5 5 55 86 10 L m 2577/ /////f/// Q fl 1g lsfi a: 90 SW 59 3 a wmy, 3 a a 35 @Mfh f T 4% FIG-l5 ATTORNEY CONNECTION SYSTEM FOR STEELBEAMS This invention relates to a connection system for steel beams,more particularly a standardized framing connection which utilizes aminimum number of fasteners in field erection and substantially reducesthe amount of labor presently required to erect structural steel.

The connection system embodies a pair of fittings, one designed to befastened to a supporting beam or column, and the other designed to befastened to in framing beam, a pair of tongue plates which engageopposite sides of the. pair of fittings, and a fastener which preferablyis part of one of the tongue plates and extends through matching notchesin the faces of abutting surfaces of the two fittings and through a holein the other tongue plate to connect the parts of the connection systemtogether and thereby connect the supporting beam and framing beam towhich the respective fittings have been fastened.

Load is taken by interlocking tongues and grooves rather than byfasteners, thereby permitting the use of a minimum number of fastenersin field erection, whereby labor costs and time required aresubstantially reduced as compared to present methods of structural steelerection.

The tongues and grooves are taper seating, self-centering, andfacilitate ease of installation. The primary tongues and grooves areparallel to the axis of the framing beam and can be made long enough toprovide excess shear and bearing load capacity. Thus large variations inthe length of the tonguegroove engagement, and in beam plus fittingoverall length "can be tolerated' Secondary tongues and grooves,orthogonal or normal to the beam axis,-with suitable clearances, mayalso be provided to take axial loads and prevent axial separation.

' No hangersor special supports are needed to hold the framir't'g beamin place temporarily during the connection procedure. Installationoljone nut only on one stud in each joint," in the field, will engage apair of tongue plates and hold the plates iriengagement with the groovesin the fittings previously fastened to the twobeams to be connected.This is suffi cicnt to support the framing beam weight, and can be accomplished with one wrench since torque is resisted by the male tongueplate.

The connection means herein shown and described will accommodate a rangeof beam sizes up to and including 36 inches wide llange structuralsteel. The invention is exemplified herein in a system which employs apair of fittings each provided on opposite sides with two parallelgrooves, a pair of tongue plates having tongues which engage the grooveson each side of the fittings, and a single fastener forconnecting theparts together. However, the strength and load capacity of tie/connection system may be widely increased by enlarging the, fittingsand tongue plates, providing thereon three or four groqvcson each sideofeach fitting and three or four tongues on each of the tongue plates,and utilizing two or three .l'astener studs, as hereinafter described.

In drawings:

FIG. I is an etevational view of a heavy beam, referred to herein asthesupport beam, an elevational side view of a lighterbeam which servesas a-framing beam between two of the support beams, showing in sideelevation the connection systemic; steel beamsembodying my invention.

instilshminsigenpsoise vievrwqflaemmnflsimswhichris wotqhstegnmn iensvsmaffilfiolu .lrtltiki "oqoair the line 3-3 OI'FIG. I. .oisiq gn'reustlhim t'ai main". mi in.

FIG. 4 is an elevational end view of the support fitting of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevational side view of the support fitting of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the face of the support fitting of FIG.2, which faces a similar fining referred to herein as a beam fitting.

FIG. 7 is an elevat'ional side view of the beam fitting which faces andcooperates with the support fitting of FIG. 2.

4 1 lbs ish at i it! FIG. 8 is an elevational end view of the beamfitting of FIG. 7, showing also the web of the framing beam of FIG. I.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the beam fitting of FIGS. 7 and 8,showing the face which abuts the support fitting of FIGv 2v FIG. I0 isan elcvational view of a male tongue plate which engages one of thegrooved sides of the abutting support and beam fittings.

FIG. II is an elevational side view of the tongue plate of FIG. I0.

FIG. I]. is an elevational view of a female tongue plate which engagesthe other of the grooved sides of the abutting support and beamfittings.

FIG. 13 is an elevational side view of the tongue plate of FIG. 12.

FIG. I4 is a transverse vertical sectional view similar to F-lG. 3,through the assembled support fitting and the male and female tongueplates fastened thereto, but showing the support fitting and tongueplates enlarged to embody three grooves on each side of the supportfitting and three tongues on each of the two tongue plates of theconnection system, connected by two fasteners.

FIG. I5 is a view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the beam fittingenlarged to utilize four grooves on each of its sides, and tongue plateswith four tongues each, connected by three fasteners.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the heavy orsupport beam consists of a web 20 and flanges 21. The lighter or framingbeam consists of a web 22 and flanges 23. The connection system forsteel beams, embodying my'invention, is indicated as a whole at 24 inFIG. 1.

The device shown in FIG. 2 is referred to herein as a support fitting,25 as a whole, comprising a flat plate 26 integralwvith or rigidlyconnected to a connector member 27 provided with two parallel aitialgrooves 28 on one side and two parallel axial grooves 29 on the oppositeside, and orthogonal grooves '54 on each side, the grooves of one sidebeing staggered with respect to the grooves on the opposite side. Theface 30 of theconne'ctor member 27 is provided with a semicircular notch31. The fitting 25 as a whole may be T-shaped as shown or it maybe L-shaped by altering the shape of the plate 26 by which the fitting as awhole is fastened to the web 20 of the support beam. The notch 31 may beangular instead of semicircular. As shown in FIG. 1, the fitting 25 isfastened to the web 20 of the heavy beam by bolts 32 and nuts 33, thebolts extending through the holes 34 in the plate 26. The fitting plate26'may be welded to the web 20 of the support beam instead ofbeingbolted to it as shown. The grooves 28, 29 are parallel to the axis ofthe beam 22 and perpendicular to the web 20 of the support beam.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a fitting, 35 as a whole, refeiredto herein as abeam fitting, fastened to the web23 of arrestin beam, as shown inFIG. 1. The beam fitting 35 cooperates wlth the support fitting 25, ashereinafter explained, and res'drh'bl s the construction of the fitting25 with some eitceptioiis. The

beam fitting 35 comprises a plate 36 integral with or rigidly connectedto a connector member 37 provided with two parallel grooves 38 on oneside and two parallel grooves 39 i in the opposite side, the grooves ofone side being staggered with respect to the grooves on the oppositeside. 'I'he face I of the connector member 37 is provided p th a se r tti r f?! i. a I v-states as... enti ies. is an; r v nl n lfl weva itsteam Hil s. Maggi V05 light beam 2 an "sunny aligned wit t egrriorespectively, of the support fitting 25 when the two fittings 25 and 35are in the positions required for connecting them together.

Male and female tongue plates are used to engage opposite sides of thefittings 25 and 35 which are to be connected together after each hasbeen fastened to the web of a steel beam such as the webs 20 and 22respectively. FIGS. I0 and ll illustrate the male tongue plate 45 whichis fiat on its outer major surface and provided with two tongues 46 onits opposite or inner surface and a stud 47 with a threaded end 48protruding from the inner surface of the plate 45. FIGS 12 and I3illustrate the female tongue plate 50 which is fiat on its outer majorsurface, provided with two tongues 51 on its upposite or inner surface,and a round hole 52 extending through the plate.

The male tongue plate 45 is placed into contact with one side of theconnector members 27 and 37 when the latter are positioned with theirfaces 30 and 40, respectively, abutting, and their grooves 28 and 3B inaxial alignment on one side of the fittings and their grooves 29 and 39in axial alignment on the opposite side of the fittings. Placement ofthe male plate 45 into contact with one side of the contacting connectormembers 27 and 37 also places the tongues 46 into the axially alignedgrooves 28 and 38 of the two members, with the stud 47 extending throughthe circular hole formed by the scmicir cular notches 3! and 4] in theconnector members 27 and 37 of the fittings 25 and 35 respectively. Thefemale tongue plate 50 is similarly positioned on the opposite sideofthe connector members 27 and 37, with the tongues 51 engaging thegrooves 29 and 39. The stud 47 then enters the hole 52 of the tongueplate 50. A nut 53 is threaded onto the threaded end 48 of the stud 47to draw the tongue plates 45 and 50 toward each other and in firmengagement with the cooperating fittings 2S and 35.

To enhance the holding power of the tongue plates 45 and 50 to retainthe connector fittings 2S and 35 in abutment the fitting members 27 and37 may be provided with grooves 54 on opposite sides for reception ofribs 55 on the tongue plates 45 and 50, respectively, said grooves 54and ribs 55 extending longitudinally at right angles to the tongues 46(in grooves 28, 38) and tongues 51 (in grooves 29, 39).

FIGS. 14 and 15 are transverse vertical sectional views similar to FIG.3, showing tongue plates on opposite sides of the facing support andbeam fittings, but differing from the structure heretofore described inthat three interfitting tongues and grooves are shown in FIG. l4 andfour interfitting tongues and grooves are shown in FIG. 15 in place ofthe two interfitting tongues and grooves of FIG. 3 and other figures ofthe drawings. The sectional views are similar whether taken in planeslike FIG. 3 through the left-hand support fitting 25, oi through theright-hand beam fitting 35. Therefore, the parts have been numbered inFIG. 14 as illustrating a transverse ver tical section through anenlarged support fitting 25, and num bered in FIG. 15 as illustrating asimilar section through an enlargod beam fitting 35.

In FIG. 14 the support fitting 25 has a connector member 27 grooved onone side with three grooves 28 and on the other side with three grooves29 for reception of the tongues 46 of tongue plate 45 and tongues 51 oftongue plate 50. Two fasteners, namely, two studs 47 with threaded ends48, on the tongue plate 45 are used to fasten the tongue plates to thesupport fitting 25 and the beam fitting 35.

In FIG. 15 the beam fitting 35 has a connector member 37 grooves on oneside with four grooves 38 and on the other side with four grooves 39 forreception of four tongues 46 of tongue plate 45 and four tongues 51 oftongue plate 50. Three fasteners, namely, three studs 47 with threadedends 48, on tongue plate 45 are used to fasten the tongue plates to thesup port fitting 25 and beam fitting 35.

In field erection, each end of the framing beam 2223, to which havepreviously been fastened fittings 35, is positioned relatively to thesupport beams -2], to which have previously been fastened fittings 25,so that fittings 3S and 2S butt, their semicircular notches or halfholes 3] and 4t joining to provide a hole for stud 47 protrusion. Thehalf holes also could be slots. The male tongue plate 45 is installed sothat its tongues 46 engage the grooves 28 and 38, axially aligned, onthe abutting fittings 25 and 35, and its stud 47 protrudes through thehole provided by matching notches 3|, 41. Next the female tongue plate50 is installed by engagin its tongues SI with the grooves 29 and 39,axially aligne on he opposite side of the fittings 25 and 35, with thestud 47 protruding through the hole 52 in tongue plate 50. The nut 53 isthen ap plied to the threaded end 48 of stud 47 and tightened to retainboth tongue plates, torque being resisted by tongues 46 and 5] engaginggrooves in fittings 25 and 35. If the ribs 55 and grooves 54 areemployed, they aid in resisting torque, due to their positions at rightangles to the grooves 28, 29, 38 and 39 and cooperating tongues therein.

It is also possible to achieve the same system by reversing thelocations of tongue and grooves. Tongues SI, 46 and 55 could beincorporated in fittings 35 and 25, and grooves 28, 29, 38, 39, and 54in male and female plates 45 and 50. However, the arrangements shown arepreferred.

I claim:

IV A connection system for steel beams comprising a a pair of abuttingfittings, one designed to be fastened to a support beam or column andthe other to a framing beam, each fitting being provided with aplurality of parallel grooves on each of its sides, and each fittinghaving a notch in that face which abuts the other fitting, said notchesmatching to form a hole extending through the abutting fittings,

a female tongue plate provided with parallel tongues which enter thegrooves on one side of the two fittings when axially aligned with eachother in abutting relationship, and having a hole extending through theplate,

0. a male tongue plate provided with parallel tongues which enter thegrooves on the side of the two fittings opposite the female tongue platewhen the grooves of the two fittings are axially aligned with eachother, and having a stud projecting from the plate for extending throughthe hole formed by the matching notches in the fittings and the hole inthe female plate, and

d. a nut on the free end of the stud drawing the tongue plates towardeach other and connecting the plates fittings together to therebyconnect the support and framing beams to which the fittings arefastened.

2. The connection system defined by claim 1, in which the grooves of thetwo sides of each fitting are staggered relatively to each other.

3. The connection system for steel beams defined by claim 1, in whichthe grooves on each side of the abutting fittings ex tend parallel tothe axis of the framing beam.

4. The connection system for steel beams defined by claim I, in whichthe notches on abutting faces of the fittings are semicircular in shapeto form a round hole extending through the fittings and axially at rightangles to the grooves in the fittings, and the said stud has a roundshank.

5. The connection system for steel beams defined by claim 3, in whichthe fittings are provided with additional grooves on opposite sideswhich extend at right angles to the grooves which are parallel to theaxis of the framing beam, and the tongue plates include ribs for seatingin said additional grooves.

6. The connection system for steel beams defined by claim I, in whichone of the fittings is provided with an attachment plate parallel to theabutting face of the fitting for attachment to a support beam, and theother of the fittings is provided with an attachment plate parallel tothe web of a framing beam for attachment to said framing plate.

1. A connection system for steel beams comprising a. a pair of abuttingfittings, one designed to be fastened to a support beam or column andthe other to a framing beam, each fitting being provided with aplurality of parallel grooves on each of its sides, and each fittinghaving a notch in that face which abuts the other fitting, said notchesmatching to form a hole extending through the abutting fittings, b. afemale tongue plate provided with parallel tongues which enter thegrooves on one side of the two fittings when axially aligned with eachother in abutting relationship, and having a hole extending through theplate, c. a male tongue plate provided with parallel tongues which enterthe grooves on the side of the two fittings opposite the female tongueplate when the grooves of the two fittings are axially aligned with eachother, and having a stud projecting from the plate for extending throughthe hole formed by the matching notches in the fittings and the hole inthe female platE, and d. a nut on the free end of the stud drawing thetongue plates toward each other and connecting the plates fittingstogether to thereby connect the support and framing beams to which thefittings are fastened.
 2. The connection system defined by claim 1, inwhich the grooves of the two sides of each fitting are staggeredrelatively to each other.
 3. The connection system for steel beamsdefined by claim 1, in which the grooves on each side of the abuttingfittings extend parallel to the axis of the framing beam.
 4. Theconnection system for steel beams defined by claim 1, in which thenotches on abutting faces of the fittings are semicircular in shape toform a round hole extending through the fittings and axially at rightangles to the grooves in the fittings, and the said stud has a roundshank.
 5. The connection system for steel beams defined by claim 3, inwhich the fittings are provided with additional grooves on oppositesides which extend at right angles to the grooves which are parallel tothe axis of the framing beam, and the tongue plates include ribs forseating in said additional grooves.
 6. The connection system for steelbeams defined by claim 1, in which one of the fittings is provided withan attachment plate parallel to the abutting face of the fitting forattachment to a support beam, and the other of the fittings is providedwith an attachment plate parallel to the web of a framing beam forattachment to said framing plate.